The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has apologised to commuters and residents of Edo and Delta states over the deplorable condition of the Benin-Agbor Road, declaring that contractors and concessionaires caught removing asphalt from federal roads without authorisation must be arrested.
Umahi issued the directive on Tuesday in Benin City during an inspection of major federal roads in Edo State alongside Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The minister described the suffering of road users as unacceptable and took responsibility for what he termed the failure of the concessionaire handling the Benin-Agbor Road.
“I apologise to commuters plying this road, the people of Edo, the people of Delta State and all the people using this road,” Umahi said.
“I am very, very disappointed with this concessionaire. I offer apologies and take full responsibility for the misdeed and the destruction of public assets.”
Umahi accused the concessionaire of lacking the technical capacity required to handle the project, saying he had personally observed the removal of asphalt from the road during an earlier visit to the site with Governor Okpebholo.
According to him, the contractor had been warned to stop the practice.
“The Ministry of Works does not allow anybody to remove asphalt on the road. That is against the policies of the Ministry of Works,” he said.
The minister subsequently directed all controllers of the ministry to arrest any contractor or concessionaire found removing asphalt from federal roads without the necessary approval, describing such action as the destruction of public infrastructure.
Umahi commended Governor Okpebholo for intervening in the rehabilitation of several federal roads in Edo State, noting that the governor had demonstrated commitment to infrastructure development without drawing a line between federal and state responsibilities.
He also praised Edo youths for remaining calm despite the hardship caused by the road, saying their restraint had helped avert a possible breakdown of law and order.
The minister said President Bola Tinubu was aware of the suffering of road users and had directed the Ministry of Works to take all necessary steps to restore the Benin-Agbor Road and ease the hardship facing residents.
Umahi added that while concession agreements were backed by law, the Federal Government could invoke overriding public interest where necessary to protect citizens and critical infrastructure.
He warned that continued deterioration of the road could trigger serious security concerns if public frustration was allowed to escalate.
“The immediate priority is to restore the road and bring relief to the people,” he said.
Responding, Governor Okpebholo appealed to residents and youths around the affected corridor to remain calm, assuring them that the Federal Government had taken notice of their plight.
He said President Tinubu had consistently demonstrated concern for Edo State and would continue to respond to the state’s infrastructure challenges.
“Our President is the man that listens to his children,” Okpebholo said.
“The cry over the Benin-Agbor Road happened a few days ago. Now, the President has sent the Minister to come and see things for himself and take the message back to him.”
The governor urged residents not to be swayed by what he described as misleading narratives on social media, insisting that the Federal Government was committed to addressing the crisis.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of the concessionaire, Samuel Daramola, blamed the slow pace of work on heavy rainfall, saying the company had resorted to palliative repairs to keep traffic moving.
The inspection tour was attended by members of the National Assembly, senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and other stakeholders.
The message from Umahi was unmistakable: the destruction of federal road infrastructure will no longer be tolerated, and those found culpable will face arrest.
